Tokyo, 13 May 2025: ERIA, through its Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC), recently launched the E-DISC Innovate Bridge Programme to foster cross-border innovation and global expansion for startups in Asia. The programme supported 12 high-potential startups from eight ASEAN countries and India by facilitating their participation in SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025, one of Asia’s largest startup conferences.

Selected from over 100 applicants, the participating startups spanned sectors such as AI, manufacturing, fintech, HR tech, and autonomous vehicles. From 6 to 13 May 2025, they took part in a range of activities including exhibition opportunities at SusHi Tech Tokyo, curated site visits to Japanese innovation hubs, and dedicated networking events with local stakeholders.

At SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025 (8–10 May), ERIA hosted the startups under the ERIA Pavilion, creating a platform for them to engage with Japanese and international players across the startup ecosystem. On the opening day, Kentaro Machii, ERIA’s Startup Ecosystem Programme Manager, moderated a panel titled ’Tapping into Southeast Asia: Collaboration Vision & Ecosystem Insight by Leading VCs and CVCs for Japanese Companies.’ Panellists included:

• Bayu Seto, Partner, Living Lab Ventures
• Vy Hoang Uyen Le, General Partner, Do Ventures
• Khoo Teng Lip, Head, ST Engineering Ventures
• Matthijs van Leeuwen, CEO, Sunway iLabs

The discussion highlighted trends and opportunities across Southeast Asia, with a focus on cross-border collaboration.

ERIA was honoured to welcome several ambassadors and embassy representatives to the ERIA Pavilion, where startups showcased their innovations. Attendees included:

• H.E. Witchu Vejjajiva, Ambassador of Thailand to Japan
• H.E. Pham Quang Hieu, Ambassador-Designate of Viet Nam to Japan
• H.E. Tuy Ry, Ambassador of Cambodia to Japan
• Representatives from the embassies of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and the Philippines

ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe engaged with both ambassadors and startup teams, reaffirming ERIA’s commitment to strengthening regional innovation ecosystems.

On 7 May, ERIA organised a Tokyo site visit for the startups, featuring stops at:

• JETRO Headquarters
• Yokohama Hardtech Hub (under Mitsubishi Heavy Industries)
• Moon Creative Lab (under Mitsui & Co.)
• Takanawa Gateway City, an innovation district by JR East

The startups also pitched their businesses to Japanese companies at the Japan–ASEAN/India Open Innovation Exchange, hosted by E-DISC and attended by over 150 participants. A follow-up programme was held on 13 May in collaboration with JETRO at the Kyoto Research Park.

E-DISC also supported the MirAI Event on 7 May, which brought together innovation agencies from Southeast Asia and Taiwan. E-DISC Project Officer Mudhya Tiara introduced ERIA's initiatives and co-hosted a panel discussion on AI in partnership with KUMPUL, TechShake, Techsauce, Startup Island Taiwan, MDEC, InnoLab Asia, and AI Salon.

As part of its mission, E-DISC will continue building bridges between ASEAN, India, and global innovation hubs – fostering inclusive, cross-border collaboration driven by the region’s startup ecosystems.